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darkcloud4579 · 02-08-2004, 02:12 PM

ESPN.COM has learned that the list of cities under consideration by Major League Baseball include several former frontrunners to receive the Montreal Expos, who relocated to Washington, D.C. this past season.

The finalist cities include Portland, OR, Brookyln, NY, Charlotte, NC and Davenport, IA. The remaining two cities are not yet known.

The early favorites are Portland and Brookyln, though the obstacles to Brooklyn are many. First, the team plays in New York Yankees territory. It was waived to allow a minor league club - The Cyclones - to return to the city as a farm club for the Mets. But, a major league outfit would be a far different story.

Major League Baseball agreed to pay $60 million in reparations to Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos when the Expos moved this season and there is talk of another settlement with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. Another option is placing a team in New Jersey or Hartford, Connecticut.

Hartford officials, who were spurned after the New England Patriots originally planned to move there several years ago, before working out a deal to stay in the Greater Boston area, said they would welcome an opportunity to have a big league team again. The last major league sport to play in Hartford were the NHL Whalers, who moved to North Carolina.

Portland is considered all but a shoo-in, say insiders. The city would use PGE Park, currently a Triple-A facility in the interim and everyone in the city, despite the cash-starved nature of the state, are interested in bringing a franchise to the state.

Other areas that have placed inquiries in the past include Norfolk, VA, Monterrey, Mexico, San Juan, Puerto Rico and even an ownership group interested in bringing a team to play at still standing Tiger Stadium in Detroit.

02-08-2004, 02:12 PM	#7
darkcloud4579 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 8,659	ESPN.COM - Portland, Brookyln among contenders for franchises ESPN.COM has learned that the list of cities under consideration by Major League Baseball include several former frontrunners to receive the Montreal Expos, who relocated to Washington, D.C. this past season. The finalist cities include Portland, OR, Brookyln, NY, Charlotte, NC and Davenport, IA. The remaining two cities are not yet known. The early favorites are Portland and Brookyln, though the obstacles to Brooklyn are many. First, the team plays in New York Yankees territory. It was waived to allow a minor league club - The Cyclones - to return to the city as a farm club for the Mets. But, a major league outfit would be a far different story. Major League Baseball agreed to pay $60 million in reparations to Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos when the Expos moved this season and there is talk of another settlement with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. Another option is placing a team in New Jersey or Hartford, Connecticut. Hartford officials, who were spurned after the New England Patriots originally planned to move there several years ago, before working out a deal to stay in the Greater Boston area, said they would welcome an opportunity to have a big league team again. The last major league sport to play in Hartford were the NHL Whalers, who moved to North Carolina. Portland is considered all but a shoo-in, say insiders. The city would use PGE Park, currently a Triple-A facility in the interim and everyone in the city, despite the cash-starved nature of the state, are interested in bringing a franchise to the state. Other areas that have placed inquiries in the past include Norfolk, VA, Monterrey, Mexico, San Juan, Puerto Rico and even an ownership group interested in bringing a team to play at still standing Tiger Stadium in Detroit.